Yankees Call Up Santos; A-Rod Reaches 2,000

The Yankees hope Sergio Santos can be at least part of one in their search for another effective righthander out of their bullpen.

"We'll try to get him in slowly, but we're seeing righthanders and we're going to need him," manager Joe Girardi said before Saturday's game. "But he's a guy who's closed and has had some success, and we're going to try and get him back on track."

The Yankees signed the 6-4, 215-pound Santos earlier in the week to a minor-league contract and signed him to a major-league deal Saturday before adding him to their 25-man roster.

Rogers, who posted a 6.27 ERA in 18 games, was outrighted to Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Friday night.

Carpenter was designated for assignment June 3 and was eventually dealt to the Nationals.

Santos' best season was 2011, when he saved 30 games for the White Sox with a 3.55 ERA.

Shoulder trouble and ineffectiveness have mostly been the story since then, first with the Blue Jays from 2012-14 — though he did have a good 2013, with a 1.75 ERA in 29 games — and with the Dodgers this season, for whom he had a 4.73 ERA in 12 appearances before he was cut loose.

"When you get injured, it's hard to get consistent innings and get into rhythm," said Santos, who turns 32 July 4. "But I've been healthy now for quite a while, and I feel good and I'm super excited about this opportunity."

Santos, whose fastball can top out at 97 and, when right, throws a good slider, said the last time he had shoulder trouble was last July.

He said "without a doubt," he sees a good opportunity in front of him.

"If I can come and establish what I know I can do and hopefully what the Yankees believe I can do, it'll be a good fit," he said.

Alex Rodriguez has joined Hank Aaron as the only players in major league history with 2,000 career RBIs.

Rodriguez hit a two-run homer Saturday night for the Yankees in a game against the Baltimore Orioles. The sixth-inning drive off Bud Norris lifted A-Rod's career RBI total to 2,001.

Hank Aaron ranks first on the career list with 2,297 RBIs.

It was the 666th career home run for Rodriguez, fourth on baseball's all-time list behind Babe Ruth, Aaron and Barry Bonds.

Lindgren ships out

Lefthander, the club's top draft pick from 2014 who made it to the big leagues in less than a year, was sent back to Triple A yesterday. RHP Jose Ramirez, up briefly with the club in mid-May, was recalled.

"He did OK," Girardi said of Lindgren, who allowed three homers and had a 5.14 ERA in seven games. "For a guy who was drafted last June, he did OK. There's probably some pitches he'd like to have back, but you can see the talent is there."

Girardi, without a true long man with Rogers gone, said Ramirez "could probably give you three innings."

CF Jacoby Ellsbury, on the DL since May 20 with a sprained right knee, ran on the field before Friday night's game but that is not a sign he's on the periphery of returning.

"It's been pretty good, but it's still not where it needs to be," Girardi said. "There's a little feeling in there that he probably has to get rid of. I wouldn't call it a lot of pain but it's just not quite ready."

Scranton catcher Austin Romine, who has spent time on the minor-league and major-league disabled lists because of concussions, was hit in the head Friday night by a fastball thrown by Rochester's Lester Oliveros, which touched off a bench-clearing incident as it came after back-to-back homers. General manager Brian Cashman said concussion tests came back negative.

"He said he's doing OK," said Girardi, who texted with the catcher yesterday afternoon.